Il-logħob marbut ma’ Lotteriji Nazzjonali jibqgħu fost l-iktar popolari, 1%-2% tal-popolazzjoni li lagħbu bil-flus rrapurtaw li l-logħob affetwalhom l-istil ta’ ħajjaWaqt it-tnedija tal-istħarriġ marbut mal-użu ta’ servizzi tal-logħob fost residenti Maltin li seħħ għat-tieni darba f’sentejn, is-Segretarju Parlamentari għas-Servizzi Finanzjarji, Ekonomija Diġitali u Innovazzjoni Silvio Schembri qal li l-istħarriġ jipprovdi stampa ċara dwar kif dawk kollha nvoluta jistgħu jaħdmu iżjed flimkien b’mod effettiv biex tingħata għajnuna lill-vittmi u lill-familji. L-istħarriġ li kien ippublikat mill-Awtorità Maltija għal-Logħob iħares lejn l-aspett soċjali u ekonomiku fl-istess waqt li janalizza l-atitudni marbuta ma’ logħob tal-azzard u l-logħob f’Malta permezz ta’ stħarriġ xjentifiku li sar tul l-2017.Meta kien qiegħed jindirizza l-konferenza, Schembri qal li anke jekk għandna tendenza li nitkellmu fuq tkabbir ekonomiku, madanakollu l-aspett soċjali huwa fiċ-ċentru tal-ħidma tal-Gvern. ‘ L-istħarriġ iħares lejn diversi aspetti; minn kemm jonfoq individwu kull ġimgħa, il-medja ta’ ħin li wieħed iqatta’ f’attivitajiet tal-logħob u ż-żieda fl-użu ta’ servizzi relatati ma’ logħob,” qal Schembri filwaqt li żied li b’dan il-mod nistgħu nimxu għal ħidma ħolistika biex nindirizzawb’mod effettiv l-isfidi soċjali li l-logħob iġib miegħu.Il-liġi ġdida dwar il-logħob li daħlet fis-seħħ minn din is-sena, saħħet xogħol ir-regolatur fl-istess waqt li poġġiet il-protezzjoni tal-konsumatur fiċ-ċentru ta’ ħidmietna. Il-1%-2% tal-popolazzjoni li ammettiet li għandha problema tal-logħob hija fl-istess ilma ta’ dik Ewropea. “Biex nindirizzaw din il-kwistjoni, ħidma ħolistika hija neċessarja u għalhekk fix-xhur li ġejjin il-Fondazzjoni għal-Logħob Responsabbli se tkun qed tintensifika l-ħidma tagħha permezztal-programm Take Action ffinanzjat mill-Fond Soċjali Ewropew immirat li jħarreġ social workers kif ukoll se ssir riċerka fost il-vittmi tal-logħob. B’dan il-most ikollna stampa ċara ta’ x’inhi l-aħjar triq ‘il quddiem biex nindirizzawha b’mod effettiv” qal Schembri filwaqt li żied li l-istħarriġ se jsir kull sentejn din id-darba mill-Fondazzjoni għal-Logħob Responsabbli.Il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Awtorità Maltija għal-Logħob Heathcliff Farrugia enfasizza fuq l-importanza ta’ dan l-istudju xjentifiku sabiex nassessjaw aħjar l-impatt tas-servizzi tal-logħob fuq il-popolazzjoni Maltija. “Dawk li jilagħbu huma dejjem fiċ-ċentru tal-politika tagħna, għalhekk huwa kruċjali li niġbru l-informazzjoni possibli dwar l-atitudni fil-logħob fost persuni differenti ġejjin minn sferi soċjo-ekonomiċi differenti, sabiex inkunu nistgħu nipproteġuhom aħjar. L-istħarriġ wera li fl-aħħar sentejn, ma kien hemm ebda żieda fil-persentaġġi ta’ persuni kkunsdrati li għandhom problema tal-logħob. Madankollu, wara l-istatistiċi hemm persuni u familji li huma affetwati u għalhekk flimkien ma’ dawk kollha li joffru servizzi ta’ logħob, nassiguraw li hemm l-għodod neċessarji biex nagħtu l-għodod meħtieġa biex nipproteġuhom u nagħtuhom gwida”. Kayne Said, mill-Fondazzjoni għal-Logħob Responsabbli spjega x-xogħol li għamlet il-Fondazzjoni sa issa minn mindu twaqqfet u enfasizza fuq l-importanza li naħdmu flimkien biex tkun sostnuta l-għajnuna li tingħata. L-Ekonomista Gordon Cordina spjega l-punti ewlenin li ħarġu mill-istħarriġ :-Il-logħob marbuta ma’ Lotterija Nazzjonali jibqgħu fost l-iktar popolari, tant li hawn isseħħ it-73% tal-ispiża fuq attivitajiet tal-logħob f’Malta.Madwar 52.8% tal-popolazzjoni minn 18-il sena ‘l fuq huma stmati li nefqu medja ta’ €11.30 fil-ġimgħa fuq attività marbuta mal-logħob fl-2017.Il-ħin medju li individwi li jkunu qed jilgħabu iqattgħu fuq attivitajiet marbuta ma’ logħob huwa stmat li hu madwar 33 minuta fil-ġimgħa; aktar min-nofs il-persuni li jilgħabu jqattgħu iktar minn 10 minuti jilagħbu fil-ġimgħa u dan jirrefletti l-ammont qawwi ta’ persuni nvoluti fil-logħob tal-Lotterija NazzjonaliIl-persuni li l-iżjed huma midħla tal-logħob huma adulti żgħażagħ jew ċittadini kbar fl-età li għandhom edukazzjoni fl-livell sekondarju. Dawn huma l-inqas li jistgħu ikunu mingħar xogħol, ħaddiema part-time jew studenti.L-ammont tal-popolazzjoni li rrapurtat li meta użat servizz marbut ma’ logħob bi flus dan kellu effett ħażin fuq il-ħajja tagħha kien ta’ bejn 1% u 2% (ammont li jvarja bejn 1,900 u 3,800 persuna). Ir-riżultati tal-istudju jindika li problemi assoċjati ma’ logħob huma simili għar-riżultati tal-2015. L-istħarriġ huwa aċċessibli hawnhekk :-https://www.mga.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/7426-MGA-Gaming-Survey-Report-2018_v9-visual.pdf?fbclid=IwAR176EpzTZO9AeQCG6RCe2905NkWnlpBM6PMn3Lpz0kwn6JmaiFa9twKORU

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National Lottery games remain the most prevalent form of gambling activity, 1%-2% of the population reported some form of adverse effect on their lifestyle after acquiring gambling services against payment.During the launch of the inquiry on the consumption of gambling and gaming services by Maltese residents that was conducted for the second time, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri said that the survey provides a clear picture of how all those involves can work better together to be more effective on the help provided to victims and their families.The survey which was published by the Malta Gaming Authority takes into account economic and social considerations whilst providing an assessment of the gambling and gaming behaviours in Malta through a scientific survey carried out during 2017.When addressing the press conference, Schembri said that despite the fact that there’s the tendency to talk about economic growth, however, at the core of the Government’s work there’s the social aspect. “The survey looks into different aspects, from how much money an individual spends every week, the average time spent by individual players in gaming activities, and the increase in the use of gaming related services” said Schembri while adding that in this way one can better move towards a holistic approach to addressing effectively social challenges gaming brings about.The new gaming Act that was put into effect as from this year which strengthened the regulator’s work whilst putting consumer’s protection at the heart of our work. The 1%-2% of the population that admitted to having a gambling problem is very similar to the trend in Europe. “To address this issue a holistic approach is necessary hence in the coming months, the Responsible Gaming Foundation will upscale its work through the Take Action programme funded by the European Social Fund aimed at training social workers and through research amongst the victims of gambling. In this way we will have a clear picture of what is the best way forward to address effectively such issues” said Schembri while adding that the survey is going to be carried out every two years this time by the Responsible Gaming Foundation.The MGA’s Chief Executive Officer, Heathcliff Farrugia stressed the importance of such scientific studies in order to properly assess the impact of gambling services consumed by the Maltese population. “Players are always at the core of all our policies, hence it is extremely important to gather as much information as possible on the gambling behaviour of punters coming from different socio-economic backgrounds, in order to be able to better achieve the cardinal regulatory objective of protecting them. This survey shows that over the last two years, there was no increase in the percentage of persons who are considered problem gamblers. Having said this, behind the statistics there are persons and families who are adversely affected and as such, it is our duty together with all those who are offering gambling services, to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to protect and provide guidance to those in need.”Kayne Said, from the Responsible Gaming Foundation, explained the work the Foundation has done so far since its establishment and emphasized on the importance of working together to sustain the help being given.Economist Gordon Cordina explained some of the key highlights of the survey ;National Lottery games remain the most prevalent form of gambling activity, taking up around 73% of expenditure on gambling and gaming activities in Malta;Around 52.8% of the population aged 18 and over are estimated to have spent on average €11.30 per week on some form of gaming activity in 2017. The proportion of the population who engages in games which are available for free is estimated at around 47.2%;The average time spent by individual players in gambling and gaming activities is estimated to be around 33 minutes per week; well over half of the players spend no more than 10 minutes in playing each week, reflecting the strong component of players involved in National Lottery games;The persons who engage in gambling are most likely to be young adults or senior citizens, have a secondary level of education. They are less likely to be unemployed, part-time employees or students.;The share of the population who reported some form of adverse effect on their lifestyle after acquiring gambling services against payment is found to be around 1% to 2% (which can vary between 1,900 and 3,800 persons). The findings of this study indicated that problems associated with gambling undertaken through regulated channels are relatively contained, in line with 2015 results;The survey can be accessed through this link:-https://www.mga.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/7426-MGA-Gaming-Survey-Report-2018_v9-visual.pdf?fbclid=IwAR176EpzTZO9AeQCG6RCe2905NkWnlpBM6PMn3Lpz0kwn6JmaiFa9twKORU